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Guitarist plays too loud

#141
All in all, everything will end up in the quote that was made immortal by singer Ian Gillan, on Deep Purples "Made In Japan" album. Some chat can be heard between the monitor man - about turning this or that up - and some band members, between tunes, which prompts Ian to quip the timeless ultimate rock'n'roll quote:

"Everything louder than everything else..."
 
#142
Maybe old news here. Here's my take.

I'm aguitarist and I've been guilty of playing too loud. It comes from having too powerful of an amp. Tube amps do have a sweet spot and if you're playing a 100 watter or even 50 watter this can be waaaay too loud. Take your guitarist to a music store and have him plug into a 20ish watter, have him crank it and if you play metal, have him put a distortion box in front of it. He will get the sweet spot with less ear bleed for the rest of the band.

I recently started gigging with a 15 watt fender. My whole band thanks me.:)

The other thing he can do is elevate his amp so he can hear what you guys hear. If its down by his knees, its blowing by him and you guys are getting the brunt of the sound.
 
#145
Lots of good sugestions here. I do believe tilting his amp back, using pedals and all that will help him and the rest of the band. If I am not mistaken it is the high frequencies that go first in our hearing... Through the years I have found this problem with guitar players and a lot of the sound men that I have worked with.. they will crank the highs till your ears bleed.. i have finally found peace... I invested in a set of Ultimate Ears last month and even though I am only working small clubs these days.. it is incredible. I hear only what I want to hear at the volume I want it... Fantastic.
Good luck
 
#146
tharv said:
+1....

Gotta play to the level of the loudest acoustic instrument..... The drums.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't agree with that, although it's a common misconception held by many band members I've played with through the years. By trying to play to the level of the drums, which can be very, very loud you inevitably get into volume wars.

Many years ago I went to a PA clinic run by a highly respected sound guy who had done sound for some really big acts. It was a revelation, and quite simple. His logic was that you've got to balance to the quitest acoustic instrument - the vocals - that's what people want to hear. Any singer is going to have a physical limit to how loud they can sing - especially if the vocals are going to have any dynamics or expression. When they sing through a mic, there is also a limit to how loud the PA can be cranked before it gets into feedback. So, I've used this guys techniques ever since. Gradually open up the vocal mikes until they're just on the verge of ringing (with due attention to EQ as well), then bring back the vocal faders until there is loads of headroom and feedback is not going to happen. Balancing to that optimised vocal limit is as loud as the band can possibly be. Everybody else has to be balanced around that, including the drummer.

It works well in pub and club gigs where the drums can usually get away without being miked, it also works well in larger venues, where the drums are miked.

I've successfully convinced both of the guitarists and the drummer in my current band to do this and even though one guitarist alternates between a Marshall 100w half stack and a Marshall 50w combo and the other uses a Hughes & Kettner 100w Switchblade half stack we now get a good balance that everybody appreciates - especially our lead singeer.
 
#147
Cream broke up because they got into volume wars. In this case the guitar player complained about the bass being too loud! There really is no room for over-sized egos in a band. If somebody won't turn down then they need to be shown the door.

"From its creation, Cream were faced with some fundamental problems that would later lead to its dissolution in November 1968. The rivalry between Bruce and Baker created tensions in the band. Clapton also felt that the members of the band did not listen to each other enough. Equipment during these years had also got better; new Marshall amplifier stacks cranked out more power, and Jack Bruce pushed the volume levels higher, creating tension for Baker who would have trouble competing with roaring stacks. Clapton spoke of a concert during which he stopped playing and neither Baker nor Bruce noticed. Clapton has also commented that Cream's later gigs mainly consisted of its members showing off. Cream decided that they would break up in May 1968 during a tour of the US."
 
#149
Like others have already said, ask him to turn the volume down. If he refuses then look for another guitarist. If all the members are in agreement then he will most likely do the best thing for your band that benefits all members involved and turn down.

I once played in a band where the singers told me I played bass too loud, but the guitarist told me he couldn't hear me when I turned the volume down causing the tempo to go astray therefore he would not solo.

So, I think that you can always state your case with that!!! If he is playing too loud, then the rhythm section is off also if he is drowning you all out. This may not be the case but just thought I would throw it out there!!

Remember - you and the drummer are the rhythm section!!! the most important part of the band!! Ok, off my soapbox now!!!

Sorry for the rant my brother!! just my .002 cents, that's all.
 
#152
steveksux said:
There's an ancient language of spells that legend has it can tame a guitar players volume instantly.

Almost nobody can read this ancient language anymore, its shrouded in mystery, but the magic has been witnessed, and verified.

It looks something like this:

Link Removed

Randy
Click to expand...

Is there a reason the bass clef is almost completely omitted from the start of each line?
 
#153
I used reverse psychology on mine.

We'd always start at a decent volume at start of rehearsal, then he'd crank up louder as practice went on. One day I cranked up too, then told him "why are you playing so quietly? You're not loud enough". His response "no, we can't play so loud to where we can't even hear the drums". My reply, "you're right, let's turn down". lol
 
#155
TwoBass, now a couple of weeks has passed. You've must've rehearsed a couple of times, since you started this thread. Digging through most of the answers and suggestions around here, which all together makes sense, you've sure must've presented something towards the band or guitarist by now, don't you think?

Or is there someone who doesn't have the courage, guts, that are in the risk of being ostracized if this happens? The summary of all suggestions around here, is like, if all else fails, then move on with the rest of the band to a new guitarist. If he won't leave, then you have to. Since he's calling the shots, regarding rehearsing at his place, and - myabe - his band, van, whatever, you'll all have to leave and find another space, van, PA, and guitarist. There's really no other solution to this case. You can only be corteous, and show "respect" for an amount of time. When nothing is given back, i e mutual respect, it's time to move on.
 
#156
Well I have said something to him along with the singer and the drummer. We told him that we couldn't hear the singer. The singer doesn't have a lot of experience so I think he's reluctant to say something. The thing is the guitar player is a nice guy, but he wants the music his way. So I'll see what happens tonight. Oh and he always says were a rock band, and I said yea but you still have to hear the vocals.
 
#157
Twobass said:
Well I have said something to him along with the singer and the drummer. We told him that we couldn't hear the singer. The singer doesn't have a lot of experience so I think he's reluctant to say something. The thing is the guitar player is a nice guy, but he wants the music his way. So I'll see what happens tonight. Oh and he always says were a rock band, and I said yea but you still have to hear the vocals.
Click to expand...

Your guitarist seems to be winning this one, because you're letting him. Either put up with it, or take some direct action, but your current softly-softly approach is just wasting everyone's time.

S.P.
 
#158
This is one particular problem with semi-pro and amateurs. The overall balance should be the main consideration. The vocals should be clearly audible over the other instruments.
Youngsters forget the original reason for amplifying guitars - it was because the acoustic guitars were drowned out by the other instruments in a band. Now, in rockgroups there are only guitars with the amplification!!!!! Just a generalisation there.
If you can afford a mixer, then the P.A. sound can be controlled but if it is a small band with an amp each, then common sense must prevail. If a guitarist is way too loud and out of tune, then the singer should explain the situation. This may be contentious and the guitarist could well get the hump and disappear. There are plenty of others to replace the guy. There is some degree of machismo and an underlying set of psychological reasons for increasing the volume. One is to make an impact on the audience and grab the limelight. More besides, of course.
 

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